AI
BetGames research reveals more than 70% of players failed to recognise AI avatar gameshow presenters
BetGames has revealed the results of a research project testing AI-generated presenters on its live game shows, finding that fewer than 30% of players realised the hosts were artificial — and that the change produced no significant impact on player behaviour.
For the experiment, the supplier introduced AI avatars designed as digital replicas of real presenters, quietly deploying them on one of its live games over several days to evaluate whether they could effectively replace human hosts.
The results showed that more than two-thirds of players did not notice the switch to AI. At the same time, key performance indicators — including session duration, stake size and total bets placed — remained statistically unchanged.
According to BetGames, the absence of both positive and negative shifts suggests that while AI avatars can technically replicate the role of live presenters, they currently provide no measurable advantage. As a result, the company believes there is not yet a strong business case for rolling out the technology on a large scale.
Cost efficiency, often cited as a major driver of AI adoption, also failed to deliver a clear benefit. BetGames reported that generating and operating an AI avatar around the clock remains resource-intensive, limiting potential financial gains compared with human hosts.
Technical hurdles further complicate the widespread adoption of AI presenters. One of the most significant challenges remains achieving realistic text-to-speech performance. As AI technology becomes more advanced and visual realism improves, even minor imperfections in speech become increasingly noticeable to audiences.
Other constraints include latency issues, lip-synchronisation delays and inaccuracies in real-time translation — all critical elements that must be refined before the technology can be implemented reliably across live products.
BetGames continues to explore the potential of AI under the leadership of CEO Andreas Koeberl, who is also co-founder of Autonomous Minds, the developer behind the AI analyst Milo. The initiative forms part of the company’s broader strategy to experiment with emerging technologies and help future-proof the iGaming industry.
Koeberl said:
“AI has been building momentum, but its role within the live casino sector remains largely untested. When it comes to AI presenters, we built it, it worked, and nobody cared. That raises the question of what we are actually working toward.
“The technology didn’t produce any meaningful positive or negative impact on the player experience or product margins, and the cost of running an AI avatar 24/7 offers no significant advantage compared with employing human presenters.
“So rather than attempting to replace humans and replicate what already exists, the focus should shift to exploring what AI can enable that wasn’t previously possible. That’s where the real value lies.”
The post BetGames research reveals more than 70% of players failed to recognise AI avatar gameshow presenters appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Nils Ristau and Daniel Schmitz debut a work enablement platform aimed at day-to-day execution across product, retention and AI adoption.
Sparky Space, a new AI-powered work enablement platform founded by former German Air Force officer Nils Ristau and tech leader Daniel Schmitz, has launched and is now available globally for iGaming operators and suppliers.
The founders are positioning the product around execution support inside daily workflows as teams face tighter regulatory demands, faster product cycles and higher player expectations. The company cited industry research suggesting only 10-20% of learning is consistently applied in day-to-day work, creating a gap between training and on-the-job outcomes.
“In military operations, performance depends on clarity, structure, and disciplined execution in changing environments,” said Ristau. “The iGaming industry operates under similar pressure.
“Competitive advantage does not come from knowledge alone – it comes from how effectively teams apply it every day.”
Sparky Space said its platform supports areas including product development, player retention and AI adoption, with use cases spanning customer-centric experimentation, agile product and game development, decision-making and prioritisation, practical generative AI prompting, and cross-functional collaboration. The company said the tools are intended to help teams launch features, respond to regulatory change, and optimise marketing and support processes.
While initially focused on iGaming, Sparky Space said it has been built for broader use in other fast-moving, technology-driven industries.
Relevant data as follows:
- Sparky Space: https://www.sparkyspace.com Official company site for product and launch details.
- UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Regulatory context referenced in the article’s discussion of increasing compliance pressure.
- Malta Gaming Authority: https://www.mga.org.mt Key European regulator relevant to operators and suppliers navigating shifting regulation.
The post Former German Air Force officer launches Sparky Space AI platform for iGaming teams appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
“‘The Wall’ is just a mental hurdle”: FGN founder Fernando Saffores shares his core business values
Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, shares the core values that have guided him through over 20 years of success in the iGaming industry in a new interview with Slotegrator. He also highlights what business leaders can learn from running marathons and flying private planes, as well as the biggest challenges new operators face and the markets and trends that will shape the future of iGaming.
Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, has seen some massive changes in the iGaming industry in his 20+ years of experience: the shift from an unregulated “Wild West” to a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar industry, the overturning of PASPA, and the introduction of AI tools, which his company quickly adopted. He shares the core values that have guided him to success throughout it all in a new interview with Slotegrator.
The wisdom you need to rise to the top of an industry like iGaming can come from anywhere: In addition to running one of the industry’s most prominent media brands, Fernando finds time to run marathons. In his view, the planning, discipline, and mental fortitude it takes to run 42 km mirror what it takes to run a business. One key is consistency: “You don’t run a marathon on the day of the race; you run it during the months of training at 5:30 AM.”
Another parallel is Fernando’s experience as a private pilot. Flying requires extreme focus and an ability to make split-second decisions under pressure, skills that belong in the boardroom as well as in the cockpit — he shares other concrete takeaways in the interview.
Fernando also breaks down the biggest challenges facing new operators today: “meaningful differentiation in a saturated market.” New iGaming businesses have to contend with soaring CAC, complex compliance requirements, and the struggle of finding the right unique niche — whether that’s through hyper-localized content, superior UX, innovative gamification, or something else. In the interview, Fernando shares the one approach he sees making the biggest difference for emerging operators.
Every business makes scaling a priority, but navigating varying laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances across global jurisdictions is no small task; in the interview, Fernando highlights the one strategic misstep he sees operators make again and again that stops them from becoming a global player.
Fernando also covers the markets and trends that will shape the near future of the iGaming industry, the brands he first turned to for support when founding FGN, the extent of FGN’s reach, his thoughts on the global AI boom, and more — read the full interview here to learn more about Fernando’s lessons in resilience, inspiration, and commitment.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
The post “‘The Wall’ is just a mental hurdle”: FGN founder Fernando Saffores shares his core business values appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Fincore and Sportradar have announced an integration connecting Fincore’s TRI Platform with Sportradar’s VAIX Personalization AI, with the companies positioning it as a way for operators to act on AI-driven insights in real time within existing stacks.
Under the deal, VAIX’s recommender models and player insight predictions are delivered into Fincore’s TRI ecosystem, which the company says can plug into existing PAM, gaming and bonus systems. The companies said the setup is intended to avoid “wholesale replacement” while meeting audit and access-control requirements in regulated markets.
Sportradar said VAIX monitors player behaviour in real time and can trigger recommendations and rewards during live play across sports. The company also said that within days of a player’s first activity, VAIX generates forecasts including lifetime value, churn risk, deposit likelihood and bonus recommendations.
Mateja Popovic, CEO at Fincore, said: “The technology landscape in gaming is evolving and operators are increasingly seeking to embed best-of-breed innovation directly into their core operations.
“Our partnership allows Sportradar customers to act on powerful AI-driven insights instantly, closing the gap between prediction and execution. By enabling personalised and automated recommendations and rewards without disrupting existing platforms, we are helping operators unlock greater engagement and more efficient promotional strategies that help them stand out.”
Andreas Hartmann, VP Personalisation at Sportradar, said: “Our AI platform gives operators a decisive edge in player engagement and retention, delivering highly accurate predictions on player activity, lifetime value, churn risk, deposit behaviour and more per user, in real-time.
“With Fincore’s TRI platform supporting real-time and deep personalisation, integration was a natural fit, allowing us to turn our industry-leading AI models into measurable commercial impact for the operator, across the user journey.”
The post Fincore integrates TRI Platform with Sportradar’s VAIX Personalization AI appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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